Major Power Problems

Friends, three major powers--Russia, Pakistan, and Japan--made major news this week, even as we've been focused on 9/11 and Iraq. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin dissolved the government and nominated a new prime minister. In Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf sent a longtime rival packing. And in Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation--then checked himself into the hospital.

With so many major power problems screaming for our attention, we had to invent a new feature: "Search & Seize." Here's how it works. First, we'll bring you up to speed on these major stories. Then, we'll help you search our site for the knowledge every learner needs to really understand this news. Let's start in Moscow and head east. . . .

Major Power Problem #1:
Russia Ungoverned

Kremlin-watchers were caught off-guard on Wednesday when President Putin accepted his prime minister's resignation and dissolved the Russian government. "Why?" many asked. To "prepare the country" for upcoming elections, said Putin. "To try to control those elections," said his critics.

Putin nominated a little-known 65-year-old cabinet member, Viktor Zubkov, to take over as prime minister. Most recently, Zubkov has led Moscow's anti-money-laundering efforts. But he first worked for Putin in the 1990s, in a branch of the St. Petersburg mayor's office.

Inside Russia, President Putin's approval ratings are sky high, but he's promised to abide by the Russian constitution and step down when his term ends next March. Exactly what the Zubkov promotion means for the pending presidential election is now the hot topic among Russophiles. One theory: Putin is positioning Zubkov to serve as a one-term "caretaker" president before he runs again himself.

Want to learn more about Russia this weekend?
Search out our Russian knowledge now

Major Power Problem #2:
Sent Packing in Pakistan

Serious as Russia's problems are, they pale compared with Pakistan's. Violent insurgencies are underway in two of the nation's four provinces, suicide bombings are on the rise, and one in three Pakistanis lives in poverty. No wonder approval ratings for President Pervez Musharraf are far from Putinesque (he recently lost out to Osama bin Laden in a favorability poll). And no wonder this week's visit from former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif caused a stir.

Musharraf ousted Sharif in a bloodless coup back in 1999 and has held power since. On Monday, after seven years in exile, Sharif returned to Pakistan, claiming that he wanted to bring "undiluted democracy" to his homeland. He was met at the airport, charged with corruption, and deported to Saudi Arabia four hours after his arrival.

But that's hardly the end of President Musharraf's problems. Sharif likely would have stayed in exile had Pakistan's Supreme Court not ruled last month that he has an "inalienable right" to return. And, with presidential and parliamentary elections looming, Musharraf hasn't been able to cut a deal with Benazir Bhutto--another exiled former prime minister--that might help him stay in power. In a fair election, Pakistanis might well send Musharraf packing.

Want to learn more about Pakistan this weekend?
Take a peek at our Pakistani pieces

Major Power Problem #3:
Sayonara So Soon?

Presidents Putin and Musharraf continue to pursue power. But Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has set his aside after less than a year in office. Abe announced his resignation on Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, he checked into a hospital, diagnosed with stress-induced abdominal problems.

Back in July, Japanese voters rebuked Abe in elections for the upper house of Japan's parliament (see our coverage). It's pretty much been downhill since then. Still, the prime minister's resignation surprised Japan's political establishment. For more on Japan's rich and varied history--including how that political establishment came to be--just click to search and seize what we have on our site.

Want to learn more about Japan this weekend?
Discover Japan at KnowledgeNews.net